Construction for airplane floats



G. LOENIN G CONSTRUCTION FOR; AIRPLANE FLOATS Filed 001;. 21, 1927 Sept. 11, 1928. 1,684,187

" PatenteJ'S pt. 11 1928. J

enovna ma a, or NEW-YORK, n. Y.

consrnuorion For, AIRPLANE. FLOATS.

a as med oemfgi, {1927,- Serial no. 227,733.

The invention has "i floats, including the hullszof ilyin'g boitts, the floats of seaplanes, and wing pontoon'sg The invention has for its'object'a composite a and metal construction for such floats, possessing advantagesover prior all-metal,v or all-wood floats, and 'a special object is to avoid corrosionin such a construction. F I

' The construction involves a sheet metal,

dura'lumin covering on a wooden frame, the

advantage of this, in part, being that the woodframe gives resilience'while the excessive absorption of water which greatlyim creases the weight of wood floats is'avoided.

The covering is secured. to v thejwooden strength members by bolts, which is important becausebolts can be heatstrcatedcagainst corrosion in salt-water and will not lose their heat-treatment on application, as ,dojrivet's which have to be hammered. Moreovenbolts can be thoroughly coated, prior toaipplica tion, with a co-mposition protective .agaihst corrosion, which they will retain after incor- 'poration in the floats The tendency of metal floatsto corrode would be increased in a combination'of wood and metal,- due to. the fact that the woocl, though on the inside, becomes more orless dampened, and the act-ion of dampened, wood on duralumin. is very'-bad. 'Hencegthetimportance of the rotection of theholts inot only where their eads'project' on-the "wide but also where they-lie in the woo As a further and very vital y provide that the covering andf-th'ef -fraine members -shall be separated, byinterposhi between them 'a'layer of fabric impregnated with marine glue, tar compound or other ;nia-* terial having similar lasting Waterproof quill ities. This layerprevents any moisture'i the wood, which may come from: Wate with airplane I by bolt-s 4. These ity to withstand corrosion. v I The joint between the sheets 3 is covered by 5 a finishing strip 5, and between the finishing members splashing into the bull or seeping into-p011 1 toons, from acting on the sheets of the'covcn 'I ing. The bolts themselves are protected by their coatings, and in order toprevent corrosion by electrolysis between'them and'the covering they, like the sheets, are made of -duralum in.

- The accompanying drawing is a fragmen- .tary sectional perspective view of a'co-nstruction suificient'to illustrate the invention.

The member 2 is one of the wooden strength members, for example, a chine longeron, representing the framework. Portions of two of the sheets of the metalcovering are-marked 3, these sheets bein secured to the member. 2.

lts have been previously coated all over, as-by dipping, with enamel, marine glue, bitumastic or other compound adapted to protect them when in place against the-corrosive action of saltwater. The bolts are of-dura'lumin, and'may be understood to have been heat treated to increase/their abilstrip and the plates and rotecting the joint is a layer of impregna I fabric 6. Y

The separation layer 7, heretofore referred :to, lies between the duraluminsheets 3 and the frame, completel separating the sheet metal from the Wood While'this element may and preferably-does aid the'layer 6 in making the joint tight against entrance of water, its special function is to protect against I dampness onthe'ins'ide settling in the wood protection I and thence attacking the metal.

claim as new is:

rplane' floats comprisanfouter ;ii m skinjf bolts for securing said.

metalskinto said frame members, and said kin'beinggentirelyseparated from said frame y'a layer 0 protecting material.

p GROVERILOENINGV' f wood, frame members, 

